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OSSera Delivers Resource Inventory Management System

3/16/14 1:39 PM

Resource Inventory Management is an important component in Resource Management Domain of Operations Support System (OSS). Resource Inventory applications manage information of all resources used to implement services and products. This application area is typically linked to various element management systems (EMS) (i.e. building inventory for actual server, applications, network and resource assets) and resource inventory database systems.

OSSera Inventory Manager (OSSera IM) is designed and implemented under the general guidance of TMF Frameworx. The main function of OSSera IM is to host all network information/network data correctly and efficiently. OSSera IM has followed TMF SID in the data model definition for the resources to be managed. OSSera IM can accurately describe the state of resources (network elements and their components, IT systems and applications, resources defined within systems etc.). OSSera IM can track status of all resources. OSSera IM also interacts with Resource Activation and Resource Provisioning, and manages under-utilized or “stranded” assets. OSSera IM also allows for client operations support (service assurance and billing systems) to retrieve part or the entire resource inventory.

OSSera Inventory Manager (OSSera IM), like all other inventory management systems, is basically a Configuration Management Database (CMDB). It hosts all information about the network. In order to get the information and keep the information accurate, OSSera IM first needs to load in all configuration information from EMS then periodically synchronize with EMS. Since each EMS may have its own data model by device vendor’s choice, OSSera IM has to first convert the raw data from EMS to OSSera IM data model (designed following TMF SID). Like other OSSera framework products, OSSera IM relies on OSSera Platform’s common data conversion process in handling data as follows:

For above Step 1 to 3, the process is very similar to the process in OSSera Fault Manager (OSSera FM) or Performance Manager (OSSera PM). For Step 4, OSSera IM is a repository for other applications to retrieve data. Extensions can be made to provide specialized information for specific applications. For example, service fulfillment application needs IM to be capable of reserving resource in CMDB for a service. The following diagram shows the system architecture of OSSera IM:

Today’s Communication Service Providers (CSP) often operates large networks. Thus it is not practical to input network/device data manually to IM. An automated process must be used to speed up the process. Common practice is to develop ways to load data automatically from EMS. OSSera IM has developed an efficient and effective layer called Gateway to facilitate the automatic data input process. OSSera Gateway can be easily built using tools provided by OSSera IM and by using many pre-built data collectors and data convertors. Using OSSera Gateway, OSSera IM can easily connect to EMS, input data automatically, and convert raw data automatically to IM data model class instances for each EMS.

About Us - OSSera, Inc. is a global provider of Operational Support System (OSS) solutions for IT organizations, service planning, service operations, and network operations. OSSera's multi-threaded symmetrically distributed platform fully leverages modern multi-core server hardware to provide higher flexibility, reliability, and scalability for service and resource management solutions. OSSera's products support the TM Forum's suite of standards especially in the area of Service Management, Fault Management, Performance Management, Data Mediation, and Configuration Management. Meet the management team.